Concordia University Irvine Earns Ten-Year WASC Reaccreditation

Jul 22, 2014 4:45 PM

Lindy Neubauer

“Concordia is honored to be publicly recognized for the quality of education we provide. We have demonstrated to our regional accreditation body and academic peers that we provide an all-around excellent and innovative education,” said Peter L. Senkbeil, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and associate provost.

IRVINE, Calif. – July 18, 2014 – Concordia University Irvine announced today that it has earned regional reaccreditation by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for a term of 10 years, the maximum length of time that it can be awarded. WASC’s systematic review of the schools in the region provides quality control for all aspects of the university, and the commission’s decision was based on a thorough self-study report prepared by Concordia University Irvine, an off-site review of that report by a WASC evaluation team composed of faculty and administrators from peers in the region and a three-day campus visit by that same team last March.

“Concordia is honored to be publicly recognized for the quality of education we provide. We have demonstrated to our regional accreditation body and academic peers that we provide an all-around excellent and innovative education,” said Peter L. Senkbeil, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and associate provost. “WASC expressed appreciation to Concordia for a clearly written and presented report that demonstrated candor and honesty. The accreditation team found that the institution addressed each of the required components appropriately and they commended us for several strengths.”

Concordia University Irvine was invited by WASC in 2011 to participate in a pilot program for a new institutional review process. Institutions who joined the pilot program were asked at an early stage to focus on several new components which had not been required previously. With eight schools participating in the first group of the pilot program, Concordia was one of three schools to receive ten year regional reaccreditation, the longest term of accreditation awarded. The WASC Commission commended Concordia University Irvine for its early work in some of the new accreditation components and featured that work at this year’s Academic Resource Conference. Several of the new components Concordia University Irvine implemented were adopted by WASC as “best practices” and will serve as models for other institutions to follow.

Among the work commended by the WASC Commission in the area of “Meaning, Quality, and Rigor of Degrees” was Concordia University Irvine’s unique “Core” curriculum, which connects the school’s faith-based mission and undergraduate institutional learning outcomes. Through the Core’s thoughtful pairing of different disciplines in the general education coursework, such as biology and theology or mathematics and philosophy, students are taught to hone logical thinking, sharpen communication skills, make creative connections, draw their own conclusions and support them with evidence.

The WASC team applauded Concordia University Irvine’s co-curricular assessment program as a “remarkable” method to verify that co-curricular outcomes are tied directly to academic goals and praised its commitment to student success as sustainable beyond just preparing for a regional accreditation visit. The University has created a thoughtful process for defining and assessing co-curricular activities and student success that has become embedded into the infrastructure of the institution. The WASC team also noted Concordia University Irvine’s remarkable fiscal stability and sustainability.

Concordia University Irvine prepares students for their vocations—their calling in life. Concordia University Irvine offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and adult degree programs in a beautiful Southern California location in the City of Irvine, with online and regional cohort options. Concordia’s undergraduate program is distinctive among universities in California because of its nationally recognized Core Curriculum, and its Lutheran heritage that provides a thoughtful and caring Christian community that lives out the theology of "Grace Alone. Faith Alone." Concordia is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University and has been named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's institutions. Concordia University Irvine enrolls over 4,000 students.